Nut-lock.



R. F. MICHAEL.

NUTYLOCK.

7 APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, 1918. RENEWED-JAN; H, !919. 1,298,994,

Patehted Apr. 1, 1919.

ROBERT FRANCIS MICHAEL, OF MAINVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

NUT-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

Application filed April 8, 1918, Serial No. 227,313: Renewed January 11, 1919. Serial No. 270,752.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT F. MIoHAEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mainville, in the county of Columbia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nut- Locks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved nut lock and has for its primary object to provide a nut lock of that type wherein the locking means is permanently carried by the nut, and including improved means for actuating the locking element to securely lock the nut upon the bolt in any adjusted position.

The present invention is principally characterized by the provision of a rotatable cam element mounted in the nut and co-acting with a pivoted lockin member in such manner as to positively imit the movement of said locking member and prevent its projection beyond the plane of the side face of the nut.

It is also a further general object of my invention to provide a nut lock which is simple and durable in its construction, eflicient and reliable in practical operation, and which will not in any manner injure the bolt threads to prevent the free travel of the nut thereon.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the improved combination, construction and relative arrangement of the several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, subsequently claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view through a nut equipped with my improved locking device and showing the nut looked upon a bolt;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; .11

Fig. 1 1s a detail perspective view of the locking member;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the actuating cam for the locking member; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cam operatin key.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates the threaded bolt and 6 the nut engaged thereon. This nut is provided in one side face with a longitudinally extending slot 7, the medial'portion of which opens into the threaded bore of the nut. A locking member 8 is pivotally mounted as at 9 in one end of the slot 7 This locking member is in the form of a metal plate and has the intermediate portion of its inner edge curved concentrically to the nut bore and toothed as shown at 10. The other end of the locking member 8 is bifurcated as at 11..

' A pin 12 is rotatably mounted in the nut 6 and extends transversely therethrough and this pin is provided intermediate of its ends with a cam portion 13 disposed in the slot or bifurcation 11 of the locking member, 7. One end of said pin is diametrically enlarged and formed with a rectangular, longitudinal extension 14L, said enlargement and extension being wholly disposed within the opening 15 formed in the nut at one side of the slot 7. The cam portion 13 of the pin is of such dimensions, that its longer axis exceeds the width of the slot or bifurcation 11 in the locking member. This cam, however, will never Project the locking member beyond the plane of the side face of the nut.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a suitable operating key for the cam element which consists of a metal bar 17 having a cylindrical lug 18 fixed in one end thereof and projecting from one side face of the bar. This lug is of such diameter that it may be readily fitted within the opening 15 in the nut, and said lug is slotted as at 18 to receive the rectangular end 14 of the pin 12.

In the operation of the device, after the nut has been adjusted to the desired position upon the bolt 5, the key is applied to the end of the pin 12 and said pin rotated in the proper direction to cause the cam to coact with the inner arm of the locln'ng member 8 at its bifurcated end and force said member inwardly in the slot 7 The teeth 10 on the inner edge of the locking member are thus caused to tightly bind upon the threads of the bolt 5. The nut is in this manner securely looked upon the bolt against turning movement in either direction which might otherwise be occasioned when the bolt and nut are subjected to violent shock or vibration. The nut could only be forcibly turned upon the bolt by the application of a wrench which would result in the mutilation of the bolt threads. However, in order to remove the bolt it is only necessary to again apply the key to the end of the pin 12 and turn said pin so as to dispose the longitudinal aXis of the cam portion 13 in parallel relation to the locking plate 8. The turning movement may, however, be continued to positively move the plate outwardly in the slot 7 whereby the teeth 10 are fully disengaged from the threads of the bolt. The nut can then be readily turned and completely removed from the bolt. It will thus be seen that the threads of the bolt will in no wise be mutilated so that the nut can again be applied thereto.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that I have devised a very simple and durably constructed nut lock wherein the use of springs and similar easily breakable elements is avoided. The device is well adapted for use in connection with rail bolts for securing the joint fish plates in place, though it is of course manifest that my improved nut lock can also be used in many other cases where a positive and reli able lock for the nut is desirable. The several parts of. the device are also of Very simple form and can be manufactured and assembled in the nut at relatively small'cost.

While I have shown and described the preferred construction and arrangement of the several elements, it is to be understood thatthe device is susceptible of considerable modification therein, and I therefore reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within slot, the other end of said member being bifurcated, said locking member having a toothed edge to project into the nut bore, and a rotatable actuating element mounted in the nut and having a part disposed in the bifurcation of said member to coact with the locking member and urge the toothed edge thereof into binding engagement uponthe bolt threads.

2. A nut lock including a nut having a slot in one side face, the medial portion of which opens into the nut bore, a locking member pivoted at one of its ends in said slot, the other end of said member being bifurcated, said locking member having a toothed edge to project into the nut bore, and a pin rotatably mounted in the nut and having its axis disposed at right angles to the locking member, said pin extending through the bifurcation in said member and having a cam part to coact with the locking member and urge the toothed edge thereof into binding engagement upon the bolt threads.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT FRANCIS MICHAEL.

Witnesses:

A. C. HAWK, N. R. MICHAEL.

Copies. of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Iiateuua Washington, D. G." 

